Could Igawa be the long man?

by Travis G on Mar 16, 2009 4:09 PM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

It's not out of the realm of possibility. He's been the Yanks' best long reliever of the spring (so far). Including today's scoreless set of innings, he has not given up a run (albeit in just nine innings), recording nine strikeouts with just two walks and five hits. He's an effective pitcher at the Triple-A level, and that usually translates to (some) effectiveness at the major league level - perhaps this is the start of that.

The other main contenders are Phil Coke, Brett Tomko, Dan Giese and Al Aceves. Coke might draw attention because he's versatile: he can throw 96 MPH for one inning, but has the repertoire to go 3-4 innings if needed.

Tomko has pitched well, garnering a 1.74 ERA in 10.1 innings in the spring. But his long track record indicates otherwise: a 4.68 ERA over 1700 major league innings (mostly in the NL), he hasn't had an ERA under 5.00 since 2006, and he's 35, so he should only get worse.

Giese gave quality innings last year as the long man (3.53 ERA over 43.1 innings), and has a solid minor league track record (2.89 ERA over 10 seasons) but has sucked in ST so far (6.10 ERA over 10.1 innings).

Meanwhile, Aceves has been even worse. He's allowed five runs in seven innings (for a 6.43 ERA) - ironically, he was the best of the bunch last year, throwing 30 innings at a phenomenal ERA of 2.40.

How much weight does Girardi put on spring stats? It will be a tough call for him, but if it's not Igawa, they might as well trade him. There are several guys ahead of him on the minor league depth chart, and a few more coming up right behind him.

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I didn't read the post

My eyes started bleeding after seeing the headline. But if Kei Igawa makes a positive contribution to the New York Yankees this year – or ever – I will eat my metaphorical hat.

by long time listener on Mar 16, 2009 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

To me, it should either be Tomko or Igawa

I made the suggestion of Igawa in my “Projecting the Pen” post 4 days ago, and it didn’t get good reception from the few people who seemed to read it. We ought to get some value from Igawa’s contract and boost his trade value. Right now, that value is very little.

"If you lived in my grandfather's house...and you wanted to eat, you had to be a Yankees fan." --Joe Biden

by SenorSwanky on Mar 16, 2009 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

I'm more of a Giese man

but I’m basing that on nothing. Also, the best way to increase Igawa’s trade value is to keep him away from big league hitters.

by long time listener on Mar 16, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed

by NumberSeven on Mar 17, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Also...

Coke will be in the pen as a “medium-long man,” as Girardi put it. He’s never been in contention to be the actual long man.

"If you lived in my grandfather's house...and you wanted to eat, you had to be a Yankees fan." --Joe Biden

by SenorSwanky on Mar 16, 2009 4:46 PM EDT reply actions

Correct

Coke is not battling for the long man role. It’s between Giese, Tomko, and Aceves.

Jason Johnson is supposed to be in the mix as well but he is way behind at no fault of his own because of the treatment he received on his eye for retinal cancer.

I don’t think there’s any chance Igawa makes the team – but I guess stranger things have happened – like the Netherlands beating the Domincans not once but twice.

by anaconda on Mar 16, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

true, he's not a long man in the traditional sense

but i included him because the FO considered keeping him a AAA starter, and he can go more innings than any other short reliever.

by Travis G on Mar 16, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

True

But Coke’s role changed once they resigned Pettitte.

by anaconda on Mar 16, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

my point

was merely the fact that the FO considered using him as a starter means he could be an effective mid/long man.

by Travis G on Mar 17, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I get it

But Coke’s stock has been rising fast and Girardi feels he’s most effective in a hybrid role where he could pitch either one inning or a couple of innings instead of a generally low man’s role in cleanup duty (more often than not) which is often occupied by journeymen the likes of Giese or Tomko.

So, in other words, they see Coke as much more valuable than a simple long man.

by anaconda on Mar 17, 2009 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I would put very little stock in Spring Training statistics

I would cut Tomko. He could be a useful pitcher, but there’s really very little skill separating him from Igawa and Giese. The difference is Tomko probably needs to either make the big league club or be released, while the other two will accept an assignment to Scranton.

Igawa is who he is, an overhyped Japanese pitching prospect who gives up too many walks and too many home runs. He might make Brett Tomko look like a good pitcher. Igawa is buried so far on the team’s depth chart that, at this point, I would just cut bait and release him outright. He has no value to this team, and no trade value to anybody else. Plenty of similarly talented players (a la Sidney Ponson) are freely available via the waiver wire.

Aceves is the youngest and probably has the most (albeit limited) potential of this group, so I would bring him north with the club, give Tomko his outright release, and tuck Giese and Igawa away down in Scranton for a rainy day or, in Igawa’s case, a Nuclear Holocaust.

by 3460kuri on Mar 16, 2009 4:59 PM EDT reply actions

if we're gonna go outside the organization

what about Pedro? i’m not sure he would accept that, but money talks. he would almost certainly be better than any other long man we have, and could pitch (well) in short stints if needed.

by Travis G on Mar 16, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions